Congressional Newsletters

RAND Congressional newsletters and alerts highlight our research on the most relevant issues in the public policy debate. See the most recent issues below.

The North Korean Conventional Artillery Threat
Sep 29, 2020

North Korea maintains nearly 6,000 artillery systems within range of major South Korean population centers, which it could use to kill many thousands in just an hour. RAND researchers assessed the magnitude of this threat across five scenarios.
U.S. Hospital Price Evaluation
Sep 18, 2020

A new RAND study shows that prices paid for hospital care nationally during 2018 by privately insured patients average 247% of what Medicare would have paid, with wide variation in prices among states.
Opioids
RAND Resources on the Opioid Crisis
Sep 9, 2020

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. is still grappling with the opioid epidemic. According to 2019 provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. had its deadliest year on record for overdose deaths, surpassing the 2017 peak.
Iran
Could the Houthis Be the Next Hizballah?
Aug 27, 2020

Iran has dramatically increased its investment in the Houthi movement, raising speculation that the Houthis will evolve into another regional proxy that serves to promote Iranian interests.
Homeland Security
Homeland Security: COVID-19 Response, Terrorist Organizational Structure, Coast Guard Airpower, and more
Aug 20, 2020

RAND experts have testified and answered questions for staff on a variety of homeland security topics, including federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic, terrorism prevention, and transportation security issues.
Telemedicine
What We Really Need to Make Telehealth Stick
Aug 20, 2020

In response to COVID-19, Congress temporarily expanded telehealth services to help make sure that people still have access to care during this public health crisis. With many of the temporary telehealth flexibilities set to expire, policymakers are looking at ways to make these changes permanent.
United States
Summer Reading List for Congress
Aug 19, 2020

While this year's August may be less of a respite than those of the past, staff should still have an opportunity to step back from the fast pace of votes and hearing preparation to examine priorities for the fall and beyond.
Epidemic
Tracking the Spread of COVID-19 with Air Travel Data
Jul 28, 2020

At the strategic level, projections of how COVID-19 is likely to propagate can inform defense-related decisions on global deployments, force health protection measures, and emerging risks that competitors may exploit infection patterns for strategic advantage.
Military Veterans
Improving Treatment for Post-9/11 Veterans with Co-Occurring Substance Use Disorders
Jul 23, 2020

Veterans who have served in the military since September 11, 2001, are at particularly high risk for co-occurring substance use disorders (SUDs) and mental health disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorder and depression. According to a new RAND report, veterans with co-occurring mental health and SUDs require evidence-based treatment for both types of disorders.
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
In Case You Missed It: The Strategic National Stockpile and COVID-19
Jul 8, 2020

COVID-19 has exposed serious weaknesses in our national preparedness for a global pandemic, including with the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS). Daniel Gerstein provides recommendations for rethinking the SNS to help prepare for future emergencies.
Military Strategy
The Future of Warfare in 2030
Jun 26, 2020

What will future conflicts look like in 2030? A new RAND series seeks to answer this question by examining the factors that shape conflict, including trends in geopolitics, the global economy, and even climate change.
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
COVID-19 and Education: RAND Resources
Jun 11, 2020

RAND researchers have examined several aspects of pandemics, including COVID-19, in relation to education issues. Policymakers may find some recent examples helpful as they continue to look into policy responses to COVID-19.